Wagon-scale



(No Model.) 'y 2 sheets-sheet 1.

L. G. GLAWSON .8u E. G/WHEELER.

WAGON SCALE. No. 467,918. l Patented Feb.-2, 1892.

(No Model.)

L; G. CLAW-SON auf.. G.iwH-BBLER. WAGON SCALE.

nofumo.. wAsnwuToN u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINUS G. @LAWSON AND EDVARD G. WHEELER, OF PLEASANT HILL, MISSOURI.

WAGON- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,918, dated February 2,1892.

Application filed .Tuly 20, 1891.

ing it apart and without danger of injuring or disarranging the mechanism thereof.

lVith these ends in View the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a plan View of a wagon-scale constructed in accordance with our invention, a portion of the platform and of the platform-frame having been removed to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the frame and platform. Fig.

hangers.

3 is a vertical transverse sectional view. Fig. et is a perspective detail View showing the construction and arrangement of the stirrups and hangers whereby the scale leversv and platform are connected with the ends of the frame. Fig. 5 is'a side view showing the arrangement of the caster-wheel `al.' one end of the frame. Fig. 6 is a front View vof the caster-wheel frame. Fig. 7 is a detail side view showing the arrangement of one of the wheels at the sides of the frame. Fig..8 is a detail view of one 'of the spindles. Fig. 9 is a 1ongitudinal sectional detail view taken through one of the platformbeams, the truss, and the Fig. 10 is a sectional detail View, on a larger scale, of the central scale-lever and the frame hung thereon for the support of the side levers.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The frame of our improved wagonscales is composed of the end sills l l and the side pieces 2 2, of which latter there are two on Serial No. 400,090. (No model.)

each side of the frame, the upper and lower side beams being spaced by theinterposed blocks 3. The sides of the frame are provided with spindles 4, having the supportingwheels 5. Said spindles are formed upon plates 5, which are bolted to the upper and lower frame-beams 2 2 and which are provided with lugs 6 6, extending under the said frame-beams to support the latter. At one end of the frame is attached a plate 7, having vertically-perforated lugs or bearings 8 for a vertical shaft 9, the lower end of which has a frame 10, in which a caster-wheel 11 is journaled upon a post or shaft 12. The frame 10 is provided with laterally-extending lugs 13, upon which is pivoted a hound-frame 14, from which extends a tongue 15, to which a team may be hitched for the purpose of transporting the scales from place to place. The supporting-wheels are of course to be made as low as convenient in order to avoid elevating the frame of the scales too far above the ground.

Upon the inner sides of the end sills l 1 of the frame are mounted the hangers 16, which are provided at their upper edges with flanges 17, resting in recesses 1S upon the upper sides of the sills, to which latter the said hangers are secured by means of bolts 19. The hangers 16 are provided at their lower ends with inwardly-extending parallel hooks 20, forming bearings for the knife-edges 21 at the outer ends of the scale-levers 22. The said scalelevers, of which there are two at each end of the frame, converge inwardly, the inner ends of the said levers being connected, as shown at 23, with the lever-arms 24.

25 designates a lever provided vwith laterally-extending knife-edges 26, whereby it is pivoted in a hanger 27 upon the front side of the frame. The lever 25 is provided at the center of the frame with a horizontal slot 28, above which it has on its upper side a sharppointed lug or stud 29, forming a bearing for a plate 30, which is provided at its four corners with depending bolts 31, supporting a pair of plates 32, which are arranged one above the other Within the horizontal slot 28,

of the lever 25, through which the said plates 32 extend. The arms 24. at the converging IOO ends of the scale-levers are provided on their under sides with sharp-pointed lugs or studs 33, resting upon the plates 32. The plates 32 are to be spaced from each other and from the plate 30 by means of sleeves or thimbles 34 upon the connecting-bolts 3l. It will be seen that by this construction the converging inner ends of the scale-levers 22 are connected with the lever 25 in such a manner as to permit the several parts to work freely with the least possible degree of friction, and also that weight placed upon the free end of the lever 25 or upon the scale-levers 22 will be evenly distributed. The free end of the lever 25 is extended between the frame-beams 2 2 at the rear side of the frame and is connected by a link 35 with the scale-beam 36,which is mounted pivotally upon a post 37 within a suitable casing 38 in the usual manner.

The platform of our improved scales is composed of the side beams 39, connected by the end pieces 40 and having the detachable sections 4l, which are provided at their ends with laterally-extending brackets 42, extending under the end pieces 40 and under a center piece 42, which is secured detachably to the side beams 39 and which serves to retain the removable sections 4l in position. It will be seen that by removing the center piece 422L the sections 41 may be readily detached, thus affording access to the operating mechanism below the platform. The platform is provided at its ends with hangers 44, having upwardly-extendinginclined flan ges45,thatalout against the inclined ends of the beams 39, to which the said hangers are secured by means of the truss-rods 4G, the ends of which are extended through the flanges 45 and through the ends of the beams 39, as will be seen, the said truss-rods being spaced from the under sides of the beams by means of brackets 47. The hangers 44 are bifurcated and have bearings upon the knife-edges 4S, which extend laterally from stirrups 49, which are mounted pivotally upon knife-edges 50, extending laterally from the scale-levers 22, near the pivoted ends of the latter, at the ends of the supporting-frame.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the construction of the platform is exceedingly simple and durable and that the hangers by means of which it is supported upon the stirrups of the scale-levers are secured by means of the truss-rods, thus giving great strength and stability to the entire structure. The platform by this construction is also hung very loosely and in such a manner as to play freely upon its supportingpivots when the scales are in use.

At the ends of the frame are hinged a pair of aprons or platforms 5l, adapted to form inclined frames to any vehicles to ride up upon the scale-platform. Upon the end sills l l of the frame are bolted lugs or brackets 52, having inclined upper' sides adapted to support the hinged ends of the aprons and to take the strain off the hinges when the said aprons are extended for use. When the said aprons are not in use, they may be folded over upon the scale-platform, so as to be out of the way, as will be seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of our invention will be readily understood.

The construction of our improved wagonscales is simple and inexpensive, and the component parts are so constructed and arranged as to insure great strength, as well certainty and accuracy of operation.

wagon-scales in pits in the ground for the purpose of bringing the platform to a level with the surface of the ground. To offset this one advantage, wagonscales as ordinarily constructed have been subject to serious disadvantages, such as the liability of water to accumulate and freeze iir the pit and theimpossibility of transporting the scales from place to place.

),y our improvement a strictly portable wagon-scale is provided the platform of which is not elevated above the ground to such an extent as to interfere with the operation, the capacity of scales of this character being not necessarily in excess of four thousand to five thousand pounds. A load of this weight may easily be hauled up over the inclined aprons at the ends of the frame.

lVhile we have in the foregoing described the preferred construction of our invention, we desire it be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the exact details, but reserve the right to make any changes and modifications which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention. It may also be noted at this point, if found necessary or deemed advisable on account of any difliculty found in pulling the load upon the platform, that the supporting-wheels may be removed and the frame thus lowered to the level of the ground, or by digging small pits or holes in the ground in front of the supporting-wheels the same result can be accomplished, although, on account of the construction of the platform and frame herein described, itis not thought that this will at anv time be required. y

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is-- 1. In a portable wagon-scale, the combination of the frame composed of the end sills and the side beams arranged in pairs at the sides of the frame, the platform and weighing devices within said frame, the spindles having plates provided with lugs extending under the upper and lowerl side beams, and the supporting-wheels, substantially as set forth.

2. In a portable wagon-scale, the combination of the frame, a platform and weighing` devices located within said frame, a plate secured to one end of the same and having vertically-perforated lugs, the shaft journalcd in said lugs and having at its lower end a IOO IIO

IIS

8o It has been customary heretofore to set frame provided with laterally-extending lugs, the caster-wheel jonrnaled in said frame, a tongue having hounds adapted to engage the laterally-extending lugsof the caster-Wheel frame, aprons hinged at the ends of the frame, and inclined lugs or brackets upon the end sills of the frame to form a seat and rest for said aprons, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the frame, the hangers mounted upon the end sills of said frame and having inwardly-extending parallel hooks, separate converging scale-levers having opposite knife-edge pivots at their ends, said pivots resting upon the hooks of each hanger, between-Which the ends of said scale-levers Work, swinging knife-edge stirrups suspended from said scale-levers in rear of their supported ends, the platform having depending hangers straddling said scale-levers and supported upon said stirrups, the horizontally-slotted lever pivoted at one side of the frame and connected with the scale-beam, and the arms at the converging or meeting ends of said scalelevers and supported by said slotted lever, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the'independent converging scale-levers, the slottedv supportinglever having the sharp-pointed stud on its upper side, a plate resting upon said stud and having depending bolts supporting a pair of parallel plates that extend transversely 6. The platform composed of the side beams,

the end pieces connecting the same, the detachable top sections having the laterally-extending arms or brackets projecting toward each other to form a seat under each end piece, and the center piece secured detachably upon the side beams, and said arms or brackets forming a seat, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of tWo Witnesses.

LNUS G. CLAWSON. EDWARD G. WHEELER.

Witnesses:

CHAs. O. RACE, OWEN G. THRALL.. 

